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Laurence Fishburne
Named the 2007 Artist of the Year at Harvard
Cambridge, Mass. - February 16, 2007 - Acclaimed actor, producer, and director, Laurence Fishburne has been named the 2007 Artist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation of Harvard University. Fishburne, the unanimous choice of the selection committee, will be awarded the Foundation's most prestigious medal at Harvard's annual Cultural Rhythms ceremony on Saturday, February 24, 2007.
"The students and faculty of Harvard are delighted to present the 2007 Artist of the Year award to the distinguished actor Laurence Fishburne," said Dr. S. Allen Counter, Director of the Harvard Foundation. "He is the consummate artist, a brilliant thinker and a compassionate advocate for humanitarian causes."
Fishburne has had an impressive career on both the stage and screen. His recent film credits include critically acclaimed roles in Mystic River, What's Love Got to Do With It and The Matrix trilogy, for which he is widely recognized. He earned an Emmy award for the telefilm Miss Evers' Boys, in which he was a lead actor and executive producer, and had a starring role in the classical HBO film The Tuskegee Airmen. Fishburne garnered a Tony award in 1992 for his performance in August Wilson's Two Trains Running, and also starred in the Broadway production of The Lion in Winter. His humanitarian contributions being recognized by Harvard include his service as a UNICEF ambassador. Fishburne has traveled to Africa on several occasions to educate youth on the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
"Harvard is happy to welcome actor Laurence Fishburne to the University as the 2007 Artist of the Year," said College Dean Benedict Gross. "His body of work as a stage and screen actor is commendable, and his efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and his advocacy for the welfare of children worldwide as a UNICEF ambassador is equally impressive."
The Harvard Foundation, Harvard's pre-eminent center for intercultural arts and sciences initiatives, honors the nation's most acclaimed artists and scientists each year. The Harvard Foundation's Artist of the Year award bears the signatures of Harvard's President and the Dean of Harvard College and Harvard Foundation Director, Dr. S. Allen Counter. Previous Harvard Foundation awards have been presented to other distinguished actors including Sharon Stone, James Earl Jones, Andy Garcia, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Halle Berry, Jackie Chan, Denzel Washington, and Salma Hayek.
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Media note: The Artist of the Year award will be presented to Laurence Fishburne during the Harvard Cultural Festival. The program begins at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, February 24, 2007, and will take place in Harvard's historic Sanders Theatre. The award presentation will take place at approximately 4:30 p.m. Fishburne will be available for press interviews immediately after the program (about 5:30 p.m.).